Council Rates

Council can now provide rates invoices directly to your email. To arrange for your invoices to be delivered via email, please complete the below form.

Contact Details

First Name

Surname

Company Name (if applicable)

Phone Number

Email Address

Property Assessment Numbers

Property Assessment Number(s)

Please list all assessment numbers that you would like sent to the above email address. Assessment numbers can be found on the top right corner of your last rates notice.

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Rating Structure

The District Council of Loxton Waikerie uses differential rating based on land use and location. A fixed charge also applies to all rateable properties. This charge is levied against the whole of an allotment (including land under a separate lease or licence) and only one fixed charge is levied against two or more pieces of adjoining land (whether intercepted by a road or not), if they are owned by the same owner and occupied by the same occupier.

For the purposes of applying differential rates, the following land use groupings have been allowed for:

The following two localities based on Planning Zones will also be utilised when applying the differential rates:

a) Waikerie and Loxton Townships with the following planning zones included in the township boundaries:

Residential

Town Centre

Public Purpose

Industry

b) All other areas

For the 2018/2019 financial year council has adopted only two differentials, identified as follows:-

all properties within the Loxton and Waikerie townships that are included in the planning zones of Residential, Town Centre, Public Purpose and Industry

all properties in all other areas

The out of town rates will be set with a rate in the dollar that is approximately 5% lower than that set for the township rate in the dollar.

Calculation of Rates

Valuation Method

Council has continued to use Capital Values as the basis of rating for 2018/2019 as determined by the Valuer-General.

In regard to adopted valuations for this year of $1,923,507,000 compared to last year shows an overall increase of approximately 2.79%. Split by Land Use Categories show that Primary Production properties have increased by 3.12%. Commercial properties have increased by 2.23% and residential properties have increased on average by 2.84%.

General Rates

For the year ending 30 June 2019 differential rating for general rates has been adopted and will apply on all rateable land within the area based upon the capital value of the land varied by reference to the locality and use of the land. Council has adopted two individual rates in the dollar identified as:

A rate of 0.4314 (cents in the dollar) for all land uses located within the townships of Loxton and Waikerie excluding vacant land.

A rate of 0.4098 (cents in the dollar) for all other land of any use within the council area.

Compared to last year these rates have increased by approximately 1.3% for both categories respectively.

Fixed Charge

A fixed charge of $325 will also be imposed for 2018/2019. This charge is levied against the whole of an allotment (including land under a separate lease or licence) and only one fixed charge is levied against two or more pieces of adjoining land (whether intercepted by a road or not), if they are owned by the same owner and occupied by the same occupier.

Separate Rates

Council is within the Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board area and is required under the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 to fund the operations of the Board at a figure determined by the Board and approved by the Minister. It does so by imposing a separate rate for all rateable properties within the Council.

The Council is required to act as a collection agent for the Natural Resources Management Board in this regard. Council does not retain this revenue nor determine how it is spent.

The Natural Resources Management Board has determined Council's contribution for 2018/2019 at $453,953. Council has adopted a separate rate and provided a maximum amount payable per property of $100.

Service Charges

Council provides a Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) to properties in Loxton, Waikerie, Moorook and Kingston-on-Murray.

An annual service charge is levied against all properties that currently are connected to or have the ability to be connected to these schemes. All revenue raised must be used to cover the cost to Council of establishing, maintaining, improving and replacing (including future capital works) the service.

The proposed annual service charges to be levied for each scheme are as follows:

LOXTON

Occupied

$514

Vacant

$494

WAIKERIE

Occupied

$514

Vacant

$494

MOOROOK

Occupied

$452

Vacant

$432

KINGSTON ON MURRAY

Occupied

$452

Vacant

$432

Total income derived from the CWMS charge for the 2018/2019 year is expected to be $1,710,914.

Late/Non Payment of Rates

The Local Government Act provides that Councils impose an initial fine of 2% on any payment for rates, whether by quarterly installment or otherwise, that is received late. A payment that continues to be late is then charged a prescribed interest rate on the expiration of each month that it continues to be late. For the 2018/2019 financial year this prescribed rate is 6.60% per year.

The Council issues a notice for payment of rates when rates are overdue i.e. unpaid by the due date. Should rates remain unpaid after the issue of the arrears notice then the Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency for collection. The debt collection agency fees and legal costs are recoverable from the ratepayer.

When the Council receives a payment in respect of overdue rates the Council applies the money received in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act, 1999 as follows:

First - to satisfy any costs awarded in connection with court proceedings;

Second - to satisfy any interest costs;

Third - in payment of any fines imposed;

Fourth - in payment of rates, in chronological order (starting with the oldest account first)

Rebates and Concessions

RATE CONCESSIONS

The State Government, in providing equity across SA in this area, has in the past funded a range of concessions on Council rates. These concessions were formerly available to the holders of pensioner concession cards, veterans, low income earners, unemployed, students, and self funded retirees. These concessions were all abolished by the State Government with effect from 30th June 2015. From July 1 2015, the State Government has elected to replace these concessions with a single “cost of living payment” provided directly to those entitled. This payment may be used for any purpose, including offsetting council rates. Note that not all former recipients of rate concessions will be entitled to the new payment. To check eligibility, contact the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) Concessions Hotline 1800 307 758 or at www.sa.gov.au/

The separate concession entitlements for Council Community Waste Water Schemes (CWMS) remain unchanged. Should you be entitled to the State Government funded concession on CWMS rates this will be reflected on the front of your rate notice.

SINGLE FARM ENTERPRISE

Two or more pieces of rateable land defined as farm land, may constitute a single farm enterprise, whereby only one fixed charge may be imposed against the whole of the land. See the Single Farm Enterprise Application on our website for details of eligibility.

REBATE OF RATES

The Local Government Act requires Councils to rebate some or all of the rates payable on some land. (Chapter 10 Division 5). This includes rebates on land used predominantly for such things as health, community services, religion, cemeteries, education etc.

Any person or body eligible for a rebate may apply to the Council in writing providing as much information as possible to substantiate the grounds for a rebate in accordance with the Act. Information on the rate rebates is available by contacting the Rate Administrator on 8541 0700.

RATE CAP REBATE

Council will offer a rate cap to assessments that experience a rise in their rates payable compared to their rates that were due to be paid in the 2017/2018 year. The proposed percentage for the cap for this financial year is 12.5%. A Rate Cap Application can be downloaded from our website. The cap is applicable to all assessments except for where the following changes have occurred on the property:

Ownership has changed since 1 January 2017

Improvements have been made on property since 1 January 2017 with a value in excess of $10,000

There has been a change of land use, or there have been zoning changes which have contributed to the increase in valuation

The valuation has increased due to the maturity of plantings which have been planted within the previous 6 years

POSTPONEMENT OF RATES - HARDSHIP

Section 182 of the Local Government Act permits the Council, on the application of the ratepayer, to partially or wholly remit rates or to postpone rates, on the basis of hardship. Where the ratepayer is suffering hardship in paying rates he/she is invited to contact the Council's Rate Administrator on 8541 0700 to discuss the matter. Council treats such enquiries confidentially and has arranged for access to the Rural Financial Counsellor to undertake assessments independently.

POSTPONEMENT OF RATES - SENIORS

Application may be made to Council for a postponement of the payment of any amount of rates in excess of $500.00, for the current or a future financial year by -

A ratepayer who holds a current State Seniors Card issued by the State Government, (prescribed ratepayer) or spouse of a prescribed ratepayer;

Where the rates are payable on the principal place of resident;

Where the land is owned by the prescribed ratepayer, or the prescribed ratepayer and his or her spouse, and no other person has an interest, as owner, in the land.

Any rates which are postponed will become due and payable:

When the title to the land is transferred to another person; or

There is a failure to comply with a condition of postponement.

Interest will accrue on the amount postponed at the prescribed rate per month until the full amount is paid.

NRM Levy Explained

Frequently NRM Levy Question and Local Fact Sheet for Loxton Waikerie District

The Natural Resources SA Murray Darling Basin have provided answers to frequently asked questions about the NRM Levy and an information sheet relevant to the Loxton Waikerie District.